Wireless node auto-reset function

ABSTRACT

A method for wireless communication within a building automation system is disclosed. The method includes establishing a communications link between a first automation component and a second automation component, detecting a change in the communications link at the second automation component, and initiating a reset function on the second automation component in response to the detected change in the communications link. A building automation system is further disclosed. The system includes a first automation component, a second automation component in communication with the first automation component via a communication link. The second automation component further includes a reset function stored on a memory and executable by a processor in communication with the memory, such that the reset function is activated in response to a change in the communications link.

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/779,399, filed Jul. 18, 2007.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to building automation systems.In particular, the present disclosure relates to automatically resettingand controlling wired and wireless building automation components withina building automation system.

A building automations system (BAS) typically integrates and controlselements and services within a structure such as the heating,ventilation and air conditions (HVAC) system, security services, firesystems and the like. The integrated and controlled systems are arrangedand organized into one or more floor level networks (FLNs) containingapplication or process specific controllers, sensors, actuators, orother devices distributed or wired to form a network. The floor levelnetworks provide general control for a particular floor or region of thestructure. For example, a floor level network may be an RS-485compatible network that includes one or more controllers or applicationspecific controllers configured to control the elements or serviceswithin floor or region. The controllers may, in turn, be configured toreceive an input from a sensor or other device such as, for example, atemperature sensor (RTS) deployed to monitor the floor or region. Theinput, reading or signal provided to the controller, in this example,may be a temperature indication representative of the physicaltemperature. The temperature indication can be utilized by a processcontrol routine such as a proportional-integral control routine executedby the controller to drive or adjust a damper, heating element, coolingelement or other actuator towards a predefined set-point.

Information such as the temperature indication, sensor readings and/oractuator positions provided to one or more controllers operating withina given floor level network may, in turn, be communicated to anautomation level network (ALN) or building level network (BLN)configured to, for example, execute control applications, routines orloops, coordinate time-based activity schedules, monitor priority basedoverrides or alarms and provide field level information to technicians.Building level networks and the included floor level networks may, inturn, be integrated into an optional management level network (MLN) thatprovides a system for distributed access and processing to allow forremote supervision, remote control, statistical analysis and otherhigher level functionality. Examples and additional information relatedto BAS configuration and organization may be found in the co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/590,157 (2006P18573 US), filed onOct. 31, 2006, and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/915,034 (2004P13093 US), filed on Aug. 8, 2004, the contents of theseapplications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Wireless devices, such as devices that comply with IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBeeprotocols, may be implemented within the control scheme of a buildingautomation system without incurring additional wiring or installationcosts. ZigBee-compliant devices such as full function devices (FFD) andreduced function devices (RFD) may be interconnected to provide a devicenet or mesh within the building automation system. For example, fullfunction devices are designed with the processing power necessary toestablish peer-to-peer connections with other full function devicesand/or execute control routines specific to a floor or region of a floorlevel network. Each of the full function devices may, in turn,communicate with one or more of the reduced function devices in a huband spoke arrangement. Reduced function devices such as the temperaturesensor described above are designed with limited processing powernecessary to perform a specific task(s) and communicate informationdirectly to the connected full function device.

Wired and wireless devices while operating within a building automationsystem may occasionally freeze or lock-up due to hardware or softwarefaults, errors or other incidents. These frozen or non-working deviceswithin the building automation system result in information, monitoringand communication dead or blind spots in which control may not be fullyimplemented.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure generally provides for resetting and controllingwired and wireless devices and/or automation components operating withina building automation system (BAS). Generally the disclosed system andmethod provides for regularly polling or querying devices such as wiredor wireless automation components operating within a node, region, floorlevel network (FLN), etc. The query, in turn, may be utilized toinitiate a reset function in one or more of the devices based on atleast one predefined criterion.

In one embodiment, a method for wireless communication within a buildingautomation system is disclosed. The method includes establishing acommunications link between a first automation component and a secondautomation component, detecting a change in the communications link atthe second automation component, and initiating a reset function on thesecond automation component in response to the detected change in thecommunications link.

In another embodiment, a building automation system is disclosed. Thebuilding automation includes a first automation component and a secondautomation component in communication with the first automationcomponent via a communication link. The second automation componentfurther includes a reset function stored on a memory and executable by aprocessor in communication with the memory, wherein the reset functionactivated in response to a change in the communications link.

In another embodiment, an automation component is disclosed. Theautomation component includes a memory configured to store a resetfunction, a processor in communication with the memory and configured toexecute the reset function, and a communication port configured toreceive a communication signal, and provide the received communicationsignal to the processor, wherein the processor execute with resetfunction in response to a change in the received communication signal.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the following DetailedDescription and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The method, system and teaching provided relate to resetting andcontrolling automation components within a building automation system(BAS).

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a building automation systemconfigured in accordance with the disclosure provided herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless node configured tooperate within the building automation system shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a wired node configured to operatewithin the building automation system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments discussed herein include automation components, wirelessdevices and transceivers. The devices may be IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee-compliant automation components such as: a personal areanetwork (PAN) coordinator which may be implemented as a field paneltransceiver (FPX); a full function device (FFD) implemented as a floorlevel device transceiver (FLNX); and a reduced function device (RFD)implemented as a wireless room temperature sensor (WRTS) that may beutilized in a building automation system (BAS). The devices identifiedherein are provided as an example of automation components, wirelessdevices and transceivers that may be integrated and utilized within abuilding automation system embodying the teachings disclosed herein andare not intended to limit the type, functionality and interoperabilityof the devices and teaching discussed and claimed herein.

I. System Overview

One exemplary building automation system that may include the devicesand be configured as described above is the APOGEE® system provided bySiemens Building Technologies, Inc. The APOGEE® system may implementRS-485 wired communications, Ethernet, proprietary and standardprotocols, as well as IEEE 802.15.4 wireless communications which arecompliant with the ZigBee standards and/or ZigBee certified wirelessdevices or automation components. ZigBee standards, proprietaryprotocols or other standards are typically implemented in embeddedapplications that may utilize low data rates and/or require low powerconsumption. Moreover, ZigBee standards and protocols are suitable forestablishing inexpensive, self-organizing, mesh networks which may besuitable for industrial control and sensing applications such asbuilding automation. Thus, a building automation system such as theAPOGEE® system configured in compliance with ZigBee standards orprotocols may require limited amounts of power allowing individualwireless devices, to operate for extended periods of time on a finitebattery charge.

The wired or wireless devices such as the IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee-compliantautomation components may include, for example, an RS-232 connection, anRJ11 connection, an RJ45 Ethernet compatible port, and/or a universalserial bus (USB) connection. These wired, wireless device or automationcomponents may, in turn, be configured to include or interface with aseparate wireless transceiver or other communications peripheral therebyallowing the wired device to communicate with the building automationsystem via the above-described wireless protocols or standards.Alternatively, the separate wireless transceiver may be coupled to awireless device such as a IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee-compliant automationcomponent to allow for communications via a second communicationsprotocol such as, for example, 802.11x protocols (802.11a, 802.11b . . .802.11n, etc.) These exemplary wired, wireless devices may furtherinclude a man-machine interface (MMI) such as a web-based interfacescreen that provide access to configurable properties of the device andallow the user to establish or troubleshoot communications between otherdevices and elements of the BAS.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary building automation system or controlsystem 100 that may incorporate the methods, systems and teachingprovided herein. The control system 100 includes a first network 102such as an automation level network (ALN) or management level network(MLN) in communication with one or more controllers such as a pluralityof terminals 104 and a modular equipment controller (MEC) 106. Themodular equipment controller or controller 106 is a programmable devicewhich may couple the first network 102 to a second network 108 such as afloor level network (FLN). The second network 108, in the exemplaryembodiment, may include a wired network 122 that connects orinterconnects building automation components 110 (individuallyidentified as automation components 110 a to 110 f). The controller 106or second network 108 may further be coupled to wireless buildingautomation components 112. For example, the building automationcomponents 112 may be wireless devices individually identified asautomation components 112 a to 112 f. The automation components 112 eand 112 f may be arranged to define an interconnected wireless node 114.

The control system 100 may further includes automation components 116configured to establish a mesh network or subnet 118. The automationcomponents 116 a to 116 g such as, for example, the configurableterminal equipment controller (TEC), cooperate to wirelessly communicateinformation between the second network 108, the control system 100 andother devices within the mesh network 118. For example, the automationcomponents 116 a to 116 g may communicate with other components withinthe mesh network 118 by sending a message addressed to the media accesscontrol (MAC) address assigned to each of the interconnected devices,the reduced function devices or full function devices collectivelyidentified by the reference numeral 120.

The automation components 112 e and 112 f in communication with thesecond network 108, and the automation components 116 to 116 g formingthe mesh network 118 may be arranged in variety of configurations tofacilitate communications within the control system 100. For example,the automation components 112, 116 may be configured to establish one ormore communication links between each other, the field panel 120, thesecond network 108, one or more of the controllers 106, or terminals 104or other component of the control system 100.

The communication link, as used herein, may represent the physical orlogical connection between one or more of the automation components 110,112, 116, the modular equipment controller 106, the field panel 120and/or the terminals 104. For example, in one embodiment the termcommunication link may refer to the information, signal, message orquery communicated between devices within the control system 100. Inanother embodiment, the term communication link may refer to the methodor medium by which communications are passed between devices operatingin the control system 100. For example, the communication link may referto a physical wire or cable connection between device, or a wirelessconnection established between devices. Moreover, the communicationlinks may refer to a combination of these embodiments. Thus, thecommunication link may refer to, for example: (a) a wired connectionbetween devices; or (b) a wireless connection between devices, where inboth cases a signal, query or message is communicated from one device toanother at a regular or irregular time interval or time period.

The term automation component may be generally utilized to describe andrefer to any device, wired or wireless, operating or communicating withthe control system 100. Thus, the automation component may be a fullfunction device, a reduced function device, a wireless device, a wireddevice, a terminal or laptop computer, and/or any controller operatingor executing control routines, monitoring functions or other building orfloor level operations within the control system 100.

The automation components including all of the devices operating withinthe control system 100 may be configured or designed to include aprocessor such as an INTEL® PENTIUM class processor in communicationwith a memory or storage medium. The memory or storage medium may be ahard disk drive (HDD), random access memory (RAM) and/or flashable ornon-flashable read only memory (ROM). In one configuration, theautomation component may be configured to include high levelfunctionality and low level functionality. For example, the low levelfunctionality of the automation component may include measurement andstorage of temperature or flow readings, reporting or monitoring devicestatus, or other functions that do not include a great deal ofprocessing power and/or capacity. Alternatively, the high levelfunctionality of the automation component may include execution ofcontrol routines, communications with other automation components ordevice operating within the control system 100 and/or the analysis ofmeasurements or other data collected and provided by the low levelfunctionality.

II. System Control and Functionality

In operation, the control system 100 communications with constituentautomation components to receive gathered information, analyze thegathered information and implement control strategies designed tocontrol, monitor and regulate a building space. Occasionally, one ormore of the automation components may lock-up, freeze or otherwisediscontinue communication with the other automation components operatingwithin the control system 100 due to, for example, a hardware fault, anoverflow of a wireless network stack and/or wireless or otherapplications faults. These occurrences result in a dead spot within thecontrol system 100 in which information, signals or other communicationlinks cannot be established or transmitted. It would be desirable toprovide a control or functionality that could allow the frozen ornon-operative automation component to automatically reset or restartupon detection of such a non-responsive condition or state. Such asystem or functionality could increase the overall performance of thecontrol system 100, reduce the number and frequency of service requestsand provide a fail-safe for a number of unknown and unforeseeableproblems which may occur in complex systems.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of the wireless node 114 configured toimplement an auto-reset function in response to or upon detection of anon-functioning or locked-up automation component 200. As previouslydiscussed, the automation component can be any reduced function device(RFD) such as the automation components 110, 112 and 116 and any fullfunction device (FFD) such as a personal area network (PAN) coordinatorwhich may be implemented as a field panel transceivers (FPX), a floorlevel device transceiver (FLNX), and other network devices. In thisexemplary embodiment, the automation component 200 includes a memory 202storing computer readable code executable on a processor 204. The memory202 may include a first memory portion 206 configured to store computerreadable code or instructions associated with the high levelfunctionality of the component. For example, the first memory portion206 may be configured to store tasks, instructions, protocols andinformation associated with or necessary for communications via awireless transceiver 210. The memory may further include a second memoryportion 208 configured to store computer readable code or instructionsassociated with the low or lower level functionality of the component.For example, if the automation component 200 is a wireless roomtemperature sensor, the second memory portion 208 may store the code andinstructions necessary to gather temperature readings, to store thegathered readings, etc.

An automation component 212 may, in turn, be in communication with theautomation component 200 via a communication link 214. The communicationlink 214, as indicated by dotted line in the FIG. 2, may represent thewireless communication link between a wireless transceiver 216 incommunication with the automation component 212 and the wirelesstransceiver 210. Alternatively, the communication link 214 may indicateinformation such as the gathered temperature readings communicatedbetween the two components.

In one embodiment, the automation component 200 is configured toimplement an automatic reset function. For example, the second memoryportion 208 may be programmed with computer readable instructionsdirected to implement the automatic or auto-reset function uponsatisfaction of one or more predefined condition or the occurrence ofone or more events. During normal operation the automation component212, which in this case may be a full function device such as a wirelessfield panel (FPX), may operate as a master device and regularly poll orquery the automation component 200 which in this case may be any networkdevice such as a terminal equipment control (TEC) which may be operatingas a slave device. The poll or query may be, for example, a statusrequest, a change of value request, a simple network or IP ping or anyother communication. It will be understood that the same query sent fromthe master automation component 212 may be directed to or received bynumerous slave automation components 200 operating within the wirelessnode 114.

The auto-reset function may be stored and executed by the second memoryportion 208 and the processor 204. The location, storage, andimplementation of the auto-reset function may be determined or selectedto minimize the likelihood that the function would be subject to ahardware or software freeze or lock-up. Thus, in this embodiment theauto-reset function is implemented in the second memory portion 208 as aportion of the low level device functionality in an attempt to isolateor insulate the function from complications that may arise in connectionwith the high level functionality implemented on the first memoryportion 206. Stated another way, if the first memory portion 206 actingin cooperation with the processor 204 experiences a freeze or lock-upover one or more of the high level hardware or software functions, thenthe auto-reset function will still be implemented with the low levelfunctions operating in conjunction with the second memory portion 208and the processor 204.

In one embodiment, the poll or query from the master automationcomponent 212 may be communicated via the communication link 214 to theslave automation component 200 at a regular, timed interval. The slaveautomation component 200 may include a timer function (not shown)implemented as a part of the second memory portion 208 and/or theprocessor 204. The timer may act as a countdown which is only reset orrestarted upon receipt of the poll or query. Thus, the master automationcomponent 212 may send a query to the slave automation component 200requesting and change of value update, e.g., to determine if a measuredor calculated value or variable provided by the automation component 200had changed, the query may be received by the wireless transceiver 210and provided by one or more of the high level functions operating in thefirst memory portion 206 to the timer and/or auto-reset routineoperating in the second memory portion 208. Receipt of the query, inturn, may act to reset or restart the timer such that the auto-resetfunction remains inactive. However, if the poll or query where not to bereceived or provided to the timer and/or auto-reset function because thefirst memory portion 206 was locked up, frozen or the wirelesstransceiver was inactive or inoperable, the timer would countdown tozero (0) and active the auto-reset function. Activation of theauto-reset function causes the slave automation component 200 to restartand reinitialize in an effort to restore the locked, frozen or otherwiseinoperative functionality, and restore communication with the masterautomation component 212 and the wireless node 114.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment in which the automation component212 and the atomation component 200 are in wireless communication viathe communication link 214. In this embodiment, the automation component200 may be a full function device, a reduced function device or simply awireless transceiver relay or hub into which other automation componentsmay connect. For example, the automation component 220 may be a roomtemperature sensor (RTS) without wireless capability. The automationcomponent 220 may be hard wired or connected to the automation component200 through a communication link 222 thereby providing the automationcomponent 220 with a wireless communication capability. In thisembodiment, the auto-reset function or functionality may be operable onthe automation component 220.

The automation component 220 may further include a timer or countdowncontrolled or reset by the receipt of a query, change-of-value request,restart command or other signal provided by the automation component 200and/or the automation component 212. For example, the automationcomponent 200 may operate in the manner described in connection theembodiment shown in FIG. 2 and simply provide, or fail to provide, thesame query to the automation component 220 via the communication link222. Thus, the presence or absence of the same poll or query provided bythe automation component 212 could control the auto-reset functionalityof both automation components 200, 220.

Alternatively, the automation component 200 could include a keep-alivefunction operable in cooperation with the second memory portion 208 andthe processor 204. The keep-alive function may provide a timed pulse orsignal to the automation component 220 to start the timer associatedwith the auto-reset function executing therein.

Alternatively, the keep-alive function could provide a continuous signalto the automation component 220 via the communication link 22. If thecontinuous signal were disabled or absent due to a failure, lock-up orfreeze attributable to one or more components or portions within theautomation component 200, the absence of the continuous signal may beutilized to activate or trigger the auto-reset function within theautomation component 220.

Alternatively, the automation component 200 may have been reset orrestarted in response to the expiration of the timer function and theactivation if the auto-reset function operable therein. Becausecommunications signals and other information flow bi-directionallythrough the automation component 200 via the communication links 214,222; disruptions, problems, etc. may be detected as the information orquery makes a round-trip from the master device e.g., automationcomponent 212, to one or more of the slave devices, e.g., automationcomponent 200 or automation component 220.

The functionality and/or variables associated with the auto-resetfunction operable within one or more of the automation components 200,212 and 220 may be configured using, for example, a wireless tool (TLX)or any other script editing program. The tool may be utilized to edit anauto-reset timeout value associated with the timer within one or more ofthe automation components 200, 212 and 220, to determine or query theindividual automation components for the number of times they havereset, and/or the amount of time since the last reset the node has beenrunning.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. For example, the elements of theseconfigurations could be arranged and interchanged in any known mannerdepending upon the system requirements, performance requirements, andother desired capabilities. Well understood changes and modificationscan be made based on the teachings and disclosure provided by thepresent invention and without diminishing from the intended advantagesdisclosed herein. It is therefore intended that such changes andmodifications be covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communication within abuilding automation system, the method comprising: establishing acommunications link between a first automation component and a secondautomation component; sending a communication signal from the firstautomation component to the second automation component via thecommunications link as part of a plurality of communication signalsgenerated by the first automation component and sent by the firstautomation component at a timed interval set at the first automationcomponent; detecting a change in the communications link, via which thecommunication signal is sent from the first automation component to thesecond automation component, at the second automation component based onthe sending, wherein detecting the change in the communications linkincludes detecting absence of the communication signal; and initiating areset function on the second automation component in response to thedetected absence of the communication signal, the initiated resetfunction comprising restarting the second automation component withoutrestarting the first automation component.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein at least one automation component of the first automationcomponent and the second automation component is a full function device.3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one automation component ofthe first automation component and the second automation component is areduced function device.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting thechange in the communications link includes periodically detecting thechange according to a timed interval.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first automation component is selected from the group consisting of:a full function device; a reduced function device, a terminal, and aportable computer.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting thechange in the communications link comprises detecting the change in thecommunications link when the communication signal or status query is notreceived at the second automation component.
 7. A building automationsystem comprising: a first automation component; and a second automationcomponent in communication with the first automation component via acommunication link, the second automation component comprising: a resetfunction comprising a restart of the second automation component withouta restart of the first automation component, the reset function beingstored on a memory and executable by a processor in communication withthe memory, wherein a communication signal or a status query is sentfrom the first automation component to the second automation componentvia the communication link as part of a plurality of communicationsignals or a plurality of status queries, respectively, generated by thefirst automation component and sent by the first automation component ata timed interval set at the first automation component, and wherein thereset function is activated at the second automation component inresponse to a change in the communication link detected based on thesending of the communication signal or the status query, the detectedchange including absence of the communication signal.
 8. The buildingautomation system of claim 7, wherein the communication link betweenfirst automation component and the second automation component is awired communication link.
 9. The building automation system of claim 7,wherein the communication link between first automation component andthe second automation component is a wireless communication link. 10.The building automation system of claim 7, wherein at least oneautomation component of the first automation component and the secondautomation component is a full function device.
 11. The buildingautomation system of claim 7, wherein at least one automation componentof the first automation component and the second automation component isa reduced function device.
 12. The building automation system of claim7, wherein activation of the reset function is in response to a nullsignal associated with the communication link.
 13. The buildingautomation system of claim 7, wherein the first automation component isselected from the group consisting of: a full function device; a reducedfunction device, a terminal, and a portable computer.
 14. An automationcomponent comprising: a memory having a first memory portion and asecond memory portion, the first memory portion being configured tostore instructions associated with high-level functionality of theautomation component, and the second memory portion being configured tostore a reset function; a processor in communication with the memory andconfigured to execute the reset function; and a communication portconfigured to receive a communication signal of a plurality ofcommunication signals generated by another automation component and sentfrom the other automation component at a timed interval set at the otherautomation component and provide the received communication signal tothe processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the resetfunction in response to absence of the communication signal sent fromthe other automation component, the executed reset function comprising arestart of the automation component without a restart of the otherautomation component.
 15. The automation component of claim 14, whereinthe processor includes a timer function having a timed period, andwherein the reset function is executed based on the timed period. 16.The automation component of claim 14, wherein the communication port isa wireless communication port.
 17. The automation component of claim 14,wherein the communication port is a wired communication port.
 18. Theautomation component of claim 14, wherein the communication signal is anull signal.
 19. The automation component of claim 14, wherein thechange in the received communication signal is due to one or morefaults, errors, or incidents in the high-level functionality of theautomation component.